The Northampton grad and drag racer goes full speed on the Mountain Hawks' defense.

As impressive as Billy Boyko has been for the Lehigh University defense on football Saturdays this season, he amazes teammate Billy O'Brien even more on Sundays.

"Billy goes 100 percent all the time," said O'Brien, the Mountain Hawks' starting free safety. "I don't know how anyone can go through games and have 13 tackles like he does and then you see him on Sunday and ask him how he feels and he says 'good.' I can't comprehend that. I make six tackles and I can't walk the next day."

O'Brien said he enjoys watching Boyko, a senior inside linebacker from Northampton, play the game.

"It stinks that he has to play so much on defense that he no longer plays on the kickoff coverage team ...," O'Brien said. "That was awesome seeing him run down the field and hit somebody."

The hits have kept coming for Boyko this season as he has matured into one of the best defensive players in the league.

He leads Lehigh in tackles with 97 (50 solo) and has 21/2 stops for losses, three pass breakups, two quarterback hurries and a 39-yard interception return that led Lehigh to a 28-26 come-from-behind win over Liberty before a frenetic crowd of 17,139 in Lynchburg, Va., back on Sept. 22.

Lehigh coach Andy Coen said Boyko seized his senior season and has made the most of it.

"Billy had a lot of injuries last year, and this year, this was his spot and he settled in," Coen said. "I don't know how many people take notice of how well he runs and takes on a block and runs to the ball and makes the tackle. He's a great player. He's passionate about the game. He's passionate about everything he does. No one works harder. Heck, he starts practice by running sprints."

Boyko is passionate about Saturday's game against Lafayette, the 148th edition of college football's most-played rivalry.

Lehigh is coming off its only loss of the season, a 35-24 heartbreaker to Colgate that decided the Patriot League title and the automatic berth into the NCAA tournament.

At 9-1, the Mountain Hawks find themselves on the playoff bubble, knowing they need to beat the Leopards to have any chance of getting the nod from the selection committee.

There's a chance that Lehigh could have another game to play next week, but that's not the way Boyko is approaching Saturday's visit to College Hill.

"I am playing this game like it's the last game I'll ever play, because it's the only one that's guaranteed," Boyko said. "That's how I am going to play every single play. I'm sure I can speak for most of the seniors. That's how they're going to play, too. We're going to enjoy it because we have no idea what's going to happen next."

Boyko didn't know what to expect from the Lehigh-Lafayette game until he first played in one as a freshman in 2009.

"I had never been to one as a fan even though I'm from the area," Boyko said. "That first game when I was a freshman was surreal, an indescribable feeling. Now that the last one is coming up, I am trying to make it the best experience possible."

Boyko, who has carved out a successful drag-racing career in his spare time at places like Maple Grove, said he never was one to look ahead.

So, no, he didn't necessarily see this kind of year coming after an injury-plagued junior season when he made 44 tackles despite missing two full games and sitting out parts of others.

After the graduation of tenacious, play-making linebackers like Mike Groome, Colin Newton and Fred Mihal from last year's team, Lehigh needed Boyko to step up.

He has exceeded every expectation.

"Groome, Newton, Al Pierce. … those guys mentored me," Boyko said. "Those are the guys that helped us get on a roll and click as a team. I've always had dreams of being the best, and that's not to say that I am. I always want to do my best whether it's football or in school. I just want to thank the guys who helped me out. … the coaches and the players I played with.

"Without my coaches, I would be nothing. Coach [Matt] Sanders really helped me evolve into the player I am and I thank him for that. I'm very proud of what I've become here at Lehigh, and that makes me all the more excited for this game on Saturday."

Whenever this season ends, Coen will miss all of his seniors because of what they've meant to the program.

They experienced a rough 4-7 season as freshmen in 2009 and then were catalysts for a turnaround that saw Lehigh go 30-6 over the past three seasons.

Boyko epitomizes the group.

He understands that things aren't always going to be easy, but that you can never stop competing.

"We know how to win, we know how to get it done," he said. "That's what's most important about our team. We never flinch even when we're down in the fourth quarter. We're getting the job done."

THE 148{+T}{+H} MEETING

•Who: Lehigh (9-1) vs. Lafayette (5-5)

•When/Where: 1 p.m., Fisher Stadium, Easton

•TV: RCN 4, WBPH-Channel, 60, WFMZ-Channel 69, FCS-Pacific

•Radio: ESPN of the Lehigh Valley (AM 1230, 1320)

LEHIGH'S LEGACY AT LB

Billy Boyko is the latest of many fine linebackers Lehigh has produced in recent years.